(KFT) will likely lift its bid to get a deal done amicably. A bidding war for the company seems less likely.

We published an upbeat Alert on the global candy giant in July 2008, when the shares were at $48.79, and followed up with a second bullish call on Halloween, after the stock slipped to $37. We wrote that Cadbury, long rumored as a takeover candidate, had the potential to bounce back to the mid $50s even without a deal.

We were half right.

Cadbury has 10.5% of the global candy market. In addition to chocolates, the company makes Gummy Worms and Swedish Fish. Its Trident gum brand the biggest gum brand in the world.

Other potential suitors for Cadbury include Nestle and (HSY). A Hershey/Cadbury combination is probably the best fit for both companies. Hershey has little overseas exposure, and it already distributes Cadbury chocolates in the U.S. But with a market value of $8.6 billion, it’s too small to swallow its larger rival, and Hershey’s ownership structure precludes the company being consumed by Cadbury.

A takeover by Nestle, the world’s largest food maker, would probably face antitrust problems. And a speculated-upon joint deal, with Nestle taking the gum business and Hershey taking the rest, could drag out longer than investors are willing to wait.

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Shares of (DPS) have bubbled up 34%, to $27.12, since our July 2008 Alert on the maker of Dr Pepper, 7Up, Snapple and Schweppes. The Dow Jones Total Stock Market index is down 19% over the same period.

The company’s shares recently shot past our $26 price target on better than expected second-quarter earnings. Lower ingredient and packaging costs were responsible for the profit boost. Dr Pepper is expected to earn $498 million, or $1.96 a share, on revenue of $5.5 billion this year. That’s up from $1.85 a share last year.

At 14 times this year’s estimates, the stock looks fully priced. We think it’s a good time to cash out of these shares, as well.

Fleming Meeks is executive editor of Barron’s and the founding editor of Barron’s Daily Stock Alert. He previously served as editor of SmartMoney, The Wall Street Journal Magazine, and assistant managing editor of Barron’s. Meeks began his career in journalism 25 years ago as a staff writer for Forbes. He holds a B.A. degree from Windham College.If you have comments or questions, please contact him at fleming.meeks@barrons.com

David Englander is a staff writer for the Barron’s Daily Stock Alert. He joined in 2008 as a reporter. Prior to Barron’s, he worked as a consultant, advising Fortune 500 companies on growth strategies and mergers and acquisitions. He has also worked as an independent equity analyst. Englander holds a B.A. from Amherst College, an M.B.A. from the University of Rochester and an M.F.A. from Columbia University.If you have comments or questions, please contact him at david.englander@barrons.com

Alexander Eule has been a staff writer for Barron’s Daily Stock Alert since 2010 and a reporter for Barrons.com since 2006. Prior to the Stock Alert, Eule wrote the site’s Barron’s Take and Weekday Trader features, offering frequent insights into individual stocks and the broad market. He holds a B.A. from Columbia College and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University.If you have comments or questions, please contact him at alexander.eule@barrons.com